An evaluation of Midwifery Group Practice. Part II: women's satisfaction.
BACKGROUND
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) is a continuity of midwifery care model for women of all levels of pregnancy risk available at a tertiary metropolitan hospital in Australia. This paper presents Part II of the demonstration study exploring the effectiveness of MGP, and reports on women's satisfaction with the model of care.


METHODS
A Maternal Satisfaction Questionnaire was developed and sent to all women (n=120) enrolled in MGP over a three-month period. The questionnaire comprised two open-ended questions asking women to list up to three things they liked and did not like about MGP, and a structured section exploring levels of satisfaction through a five-point Likert response format. The open-ended questions were analysed using qualitative content analysis, and analysis of the structured part of the questionnaire was undertaken by comparing mean scores of satisfaction ranging from -2 (very negative attitudes) to +2 (very positive attitudes).


RESULTS
Of the 120 women who were sent a Maternal Satisfaction Questionnaire, 84 returned their questionnaire (70% response rate). Three overarching themes were identified in the content analysis of open-ended questions, namely: Continuity of care; Accessibility; and Personal and professional attributes of the midwife. Analysis of the structured part of the questionnaire showed that women were satisfied with the care they received in MGP, as indicated by positive scores on all questions.


CONCLUSIONS
Women being cared for in MGP are satisfied with their care.
Fereday
Jennifer
J
Women's and Children's Hospital, CYWHS, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Collins
Carmel
C
Turnbull
Deborah
D
Pincombe
Jan
J
Oster
Candice
C
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006123:Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008880:Midwifery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*